Raleigh water users see higher bills this month due to vendor issue
AS WE GET NEW INFORMATION,
WE'LL LET YOU KNOW. ALL RIGHT,
BRIAN, THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU GET YOUR WATER FROM
RALEIGH AND RECEIVE YOUR
UTILITY BILLS BY MAIL, YOU
PROBABLY SAW AN INCREASE THIS
MONTH. THERE'S A REASON THE
BUREAU'S CALLIE HAYNES, ST
UTILITY SERVICE. WHAT LED TO
THE HIKE AND WHAT THE CITY IS
DOING TO MAKE IT RIGHT. CARLY,
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WELL, JERROLD RALEIGH'S
CALLS CENTER IS COMPLETELY
OVERFLOWING WITH QUESTIONS
ABOUT HIGHER WATER BILLS THIS
MONTH AT A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T
REALIZE THAT THEIR BILLS WERE
STUCK IN THE PIPELINE. NOW THEY
WONDER HOW THEY COULD HAVE
PREPARED BUDGETED AND PLANNED
BETTER.
SOME RALEIGH, WATER CUSTOMERS
OPENS THIS MONTH'S BILL TO
STICKER SHOCK. I NOTICE BUILD
MORE THAN DOUBLED. KATHY
CALDWELL'S WENT FROM THE USUAL
$90 TO 204. PEOPLE NEED TO
BUDGET.
>> ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE
LIKE NOW WHEN EVERYTHING COSTS
SO MUCH MORE AND APPARENTLY
THAT INCLUDES WATER, WRAL.
THIS COVERED DOZENS OF PEOPLE
CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER BILLS
WITH THE SAME USAGE. WE ASKED
RALEIGH WATER. WHY?
>> AND SAUCON SAYS THERE IS A
REASON WE HAD A
>> BILLING AND MAILING VENDOR
TO CEASE OPERATION. BUT ANY
WARNING TO US BACK IN MAY.
SO WE WERE UNABLE TO SEND BILLS
FOR ABOUT 7 WEEKS RALLY WATERS
PRINTING PROFESSIONAL MALE
SERVICES INCORPORATED 70 SHOT
HER.
>> PAPER BILLS NEVER WENT OUT.
THAT AFFECTED NEARLY HALF OF
ALL RALLY CUSTOMERS WHO STILL
COLLECTING BILLING DATA.
SO BASICALLY YOU'RE ALMOST
TALKING ABOUT 2 BILLING CYCLES
IN SOME CASES I PROVIDED
PRINTING TO PLACES BEYOND
RALLY.
>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
REVENUE SAW DELAYS IN MALES
REFUND CHECKS. THIS ALSO
AFFECTS A LOT OF OTHER
UTILITIES. THE TRIANGLE AREA.
>> AND QUITE FRANKLY, AROUND
THE COUNTRY, WE REACHED OUT
TO. I ASKING ABOUT THE ABRUPT
CLOSURE AND DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY
HEAR BACK. RALEIGH HAS SINCE
FOUND A NEW VENDOR. BUT FOR
USERS GOING THROUGH IT, THAT'S
A LOT OF MONEY. SO HAVE TO KEEP
THEIR HEAD ABOVE WATER. THIS
BILLING CYCLE.
>> AND WE ASKED RALEIGH WATER
HOW THEY'RE HELPING SOME OF
THESE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS OUT.
THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE
SUSPENDED.
>> SOME OF THOSE LATE FEES AS
WELL AS DISCONNECTION FOR
NONPAYMENT. THAT'S GOING TO BE
HAPPENING OVER THE COURSE OF
THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. AND
THEY'RE ALSO OFFERING A PAYMENT
PLAN FOR ANYBODY WHO MIGHT NEED